Ashrika
WHILE TRENT ATTENDEDa conference call, I made a quick call to Zayne, letting him know I was safe and that I was staying the night. I’ve no idea how I found myself smack bang in the middle of two men, who treated me like a damsel in distress and, handled me with kid gloves, yet still made love to me like was on a runaway train. Either way, I couldn’t complain.
Sighing, I strolled into the dining room and pushed through glass doors that led to a sunroom—a cozy one with white wicker furniture and pale lemon curtains. Large picture windows overlooked an immaculate garden and poured sunlight into the room, all built around a beautifully carved circular staircase that hung with creepers and little pink flowers. The space was so airy and radiant, I couldn’t help stretching out my hands, twirling on my toes like a ballerina, and smiled while singingSomewhere over the Rainbow,Ironically the first song I’d heard after waking from my coma.
I was in the middle of another twirl when my eyes landed on the glass doors. Pushing a stray of hair from my face, I stopped. Nicky stood there, a set of dimples bracketing a wide smile. Since that embrace in the kitchen, he hadn’t made another appearance.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” he greeted shyly.
I moved to the seat carved into the wall below the window ledge, sat, and patted the cushion. “Would you like to sit with me?”
To my surprise, he moved closer and slid down next to me. Although I was glad he’d come back, I wasn’t sure how to break the ice. He sat for a minute then stared at my neck until I fidgeted, before he broke the silence.
“Daddy has one like that.”
I frowned. “Like what?”
He reached up and fingered my pendant. “Like this one.”
Surprised Trent hadn’t mentioned it, I rolled a finger over the pendant. “It’s my lucky charm.” I smiled.
“Why?” He appeared genuinely interested.
“Well, some time ago, I lost my memory. And this was the only thing I had left.”
“Did it hurt?”
“What?”
He tilted his head to look at me, reminding me of Trent. “Losing your memory.”
I uttered a low laugh. “Did you ever have something you liked and couldn’t remember where you left it? And then after days of not finding it, you decide to give up looking?”
He nodded, his face glowing with childish exuberance. “I had this toy daddy brought me from Africa. One day I was playing with it, then we had to go visit grandma. When we came back home, I couldn’t remember where I left it.”
“Did it hurt?”
“No. It sucked because I liked it and wanted to find it. Maybe it’s still at grandma’s and I’ll find it one day.” He shrugged, his smile so innocently sweet.
“So, losing my memory is just like how you felt when you lost your toy and just like you, I hope I find it one day.”
“And if you don’t find it?”
